Once it sets in that you have to plan an entire wedding, you might feel a little lost as to how to keep your guests in order! Suddenly you’ll have to figure out who to invite, and you’ll have the urge to consider their calendars, schedules, travel, and lodging. But don’t worry yet! You’ve got plenty of time to plan ahead, and if you follow these tips, your guests will be in the right place at the right time. 

1. Send Save the Dates 

As soon as you have your date picked out, let the guests know.  Send out Save the Dates to people you plan to invite to your wedding so that they can begin to make arrangements for work and travel. 

BUT - make sure you only send them to the people you are certain you will invite to your Big Day – it’s simple to send an invitation later to someone who didn’t get a Save the Date. It’s not so simple to explain why you made someone save the date when you didn’t invite them to the wedding.

2. Have a Wedding Website

Create a personal wedding website! Many online services are available to direct guests to your registries, take RSVPs (and RSVP details), and offer information about the wedding and accommodations. By making the information readily available for all your guests, you will reduce the number of questions they direct to you. 

Provide details about the venue, dress code, lodging, and travel needs. Do you have a block of hotel rooms reserved? What are other lodging options? What are the directions to the venue? Is the venue outdoors and on grass? Will guests want to come on an empty stomach? These are all details you can add to your website. Plus, if you fill your website with deets, then your invitations can be more focused on pretty designs than on cramming information onto a small card. 

3. Create an Itinerary 

Guests will definitely appreciate an itinerary so that they know the “where” and the “when” of every aspect of your wedding. List things like your rehearsal dinner (for those invited), ceremony start time, cocktail hour, when the event concludes, and if there is an after-party.

If the majority of your guests will be staying in the same hotel, think about printing an itinerary to be delivered to their rooms. 

4. Week of the Wedding Update

A week before the wedding, send out an update to your guests with any changes or updates, as well as directions and parking instructions. 

5. Visible Signs and Directions

Have large visible signs to guide your guests to the ceremony and cocktail hour. Listing the schedule of events in a visible place also isnt' a bad idea!